Process of producing silicospiegel.



110.882.413. PATENTBD MAR. A17, 1908. B. F. PRICE.

PROCESS OF PRODUGING SILCOSPIEGEL. APrLmATIoN FILED Nov.14.19o5.

Winesses: Zzverzors frgb,

. shown in the Unirse srl-rens 'ATENT Oiflflilih EDGAR F. PRICE, OF NIAG UN DER FIR ST MO RTGAG E.

el F'LLS, NEW YORK. ASSNLOK, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOv CENTRAL TRUST COMPANY Oi" NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YO R K, TR UST'EE PROCESS OF .PRODUCING SILICOSPIEGEL.

No. see-,41s.

Specification o1" Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed 'November 14, 19m). Sefial No. 287,352.

new and useful Improvements in Processes` of Producing Silicospiegel, of which the following is a specification.

taining compounds of manganese and silicon, carbon andaa source vof iron, vis sinelted by means of' an electrically-lieated resistanceconductor'.. The the furnace and the charge-mixture is supplied as required, the process'thus being a continuous one. A body of the charge is referably. employed as the resistance-con- ASuctor and the `charge is gradually brought- `to the temperature of reduction by employing an electric current the density of which increasesthrouvh the charge.

.A suitable electric resistance furnace is accompanying drawing, in which the ligurel is a vertical axial section throughthe tap-holes. The furnace is a ver.- tical stack comprising a .downwardly-convergingbody 1 ofrefractory electricallynonconductive material, such as magnesia, silica, vsiloxicon or chron'iite, surrounded by al water-jacket 2. The body is supported upona horizontal metal plate 3, preferably o cast-steel, having' a chamber 4 for the circulation of water and an electric terminal 5. This plate constitutes the lower electrode. Supported upon the body@ l but insulated therefrom by alayer 6 of refractory nonconductive material is the upper electrode 7, a downwardly-convergingy water-j acketed iron ring having a terminal 8,@the inner surface of the ring being bare so that vit may contact with the charge. Su ported upon the ringelectrode is an iron orne 9 which carries a bell-and-hoppei charging mechanism 10. An outlet flue l1 for waste gases extends from the dome.. Ta -holes 12, 13 extend through the body l at ifferentheights. ln employing'this furnace to carry out the process, an 4electrieally-condnctive charge is fed into the According to this process, a charge con` product is tapped Outof.

`uct from the furnace until it electrode-ring 7. The charge may consist of a mixture of pyrolusite, silica, iron or iron ore and coke.

lInitial current-paths between the elec.- trodes may be provided, or the conductivity of the charge may be increased ture containing lumps of coke or niagnetite, or ieces of iron, which lie eac other at various points and thereby afford direct paths for the flow of current. -An electric current is then passed between the electrodes and through the charge,` serving as a resistance-conductor, and the charge is thereby heated, the temperature increasing l through the hearth by reason of the decreaslngr cross-section and increasing current and energy density, to a zone where reduction is effected. The reduced manganese, silicon and iron forni a molten alloy, which collects in the lower art of the furnace and may be withdrawn t irough the tap hole 13. A layer 14 of the alloy solidiiies upon the baseplate 3 and thereafter serves as the lower electrode. If the charge contains impurities, any resulting slag is removed through the upper tap-hole 13.

1. The continuons process of producing,T Silico-spiegel, which consists in srnelting a charge containing corn ounds of manganese an silicon, carbon and a source of iron, by means of an. electrically-hoated. resistanceconductor, withdrawing the molten product from the furnace, and supplying the chargernixture as required, as set forth.

2. The process of producing silice-spiegel, which consists in sinelting a charge containing comlpounds of manganese and silicon, carbon an( a source of iron, by passing an electric current throughthe charge, serving as a resistance-coi]ductor, withdrawing the prodirnace, and supplying the charge-mixture as required, as set forth.

3. The process of producingl silice-spiegel, which consists in sinelting a charge containing coin ounds of manganese and silicon, car- On a'nr a source of iron, by passing an eleccovers the inner face of the' by using ainixin contact with V trio current through the charge, gevng'es a E In testimony whereof, I efhx my si 1: laturev resistance-conductor, and noreasmg the cu1 presenee of two Witnesses.

.drawing the product from the furnaoe, and Witnesses:

rent or energy density throhgh the charge to a pomt Where reductlon 1s effected, 'Wlth- EDGAR F. PRICE.

sup lying the charge-mixture as required, as' G. E. COX,

set Orth. l i D. BURGESS. 

